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History of Utah, 1540-1886 - Brigham Young University

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NUMBER OF ENGLISH PROSELYTES. 407<br />

deacons. 17<br />

It is worthy <strong>of</strong> note that the number <strong>of</strong><br />

members at this date was about the same as is stated<br />

in the report dated June 1, 1851, 18 no interval <strong>of</strong> this<br />

length having previously occurred during which the<br />

number <strong>of</strong> proselytes was not largely increased.<br />

Meanwhile, however, the number <strong>of</strong> branches had increased<br />

by 100, and during the last half <strong>of</strong> the year<br />

1852 more than 2,000 members had emigrated.<br />

Manchester conference, with its starved factory<br />

operatives, heads the list with 3,282 members, and<br />

those who have visited any <strong>of</strong> the great manufacturing<br />

towns <strong>of</strong> Lancashire, where in winter men, women,<br />

and children may be seen hastening from their illdrained<br />

hovels through the snow and slush <strong>of</strong> the<br />

dark streets to the cotton-mill, returning exhausted<br />

with toil to their supper <strong>of</strong> bread and tea, will not<br />

wonder that these hapless human beings were glad to<br />

exchange their hard lot for the plenty <strong>of</strong> the promised<br />

land. In London the number <strong>of</strong> proselytes was<br />

2,464, in Birmingham 1,883, in Norwich 1,061, and<br />

in Liverpool 1,041. In no other town or city does<br />

the number amount to one thousand, though most <strong>of</strong><br />

the shires <strong>of</strong> England are represented in the list <strong>of</strong><br />

branches.<br />

At this period the British Islands were justly<br />

termed the stronghold <strong>of</strong> Mormonism ; and that Mormon<br />

missionaries made in that country a deep and<br />

abiding impression is shown by the fact that their<br />

32,000 proselytes, nearly all <strong>of</strong> them being mechanics,<br />

laborers, or factory operatives, expended <strong>of</strong> their scant<br />

earnings nearly one dollar per capita a year for the<br />

purchase <strong>of</strong> Mormon books, periodicals, and insignia. 19<br />

17 During that term 3,400 persons had been baptized, 85 had emigrated,<br />

and 234 had died. Id., xv. 78.<br />

18 A copy <strong>of</strong> which will be found in Id., xiii. 207, and in condensed form<br />

in Mackay, The Mormons, 246-7.<br />

19 In the Millennial Star, xiii. 208, it is stated that, between May 30 and<br />

June 16, 1851, £255-8-1 was received, or at the rate <strong>of</strong> about 80 cents per<br />

capita for that period. In Ibid, we have a list <strong>of</strong> £l,965-2-l| due from<br />

the various conferences for books, badges, etc.<br />

The first number <strong>of</strong> the Millennial Star was published in May 1840,<br />

6ome few weeks after the arrival <strong>of</strong> <strong>Brigham</strong> <strong>Young</strong> and his party, Parley P.

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